Day 1

Shakespeare's Sonnets Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

1

In Sonnet 52, the poet talks about love as more precious when it's not enjoyed every day. What do you think of this conception of love?

(5 minutes)

Some students may understand the idea, believing that rare things are precious; the poem's perspective may square with their own experiences. Others may think that the sonnet sounds like rationalization, since the speaker clearly cannot interact with his lover every day, and may just be trying to look on the bright side.

2

Sonnet 50 and 51 function as a pair. Is this "cheating" the sonnet form?

(5 minutes)

Discuss the sonnet form and the challenges it holds: it can be difficult to express complex emotions and ideas in such a short and...

The sonnet has a relatively simple structure, with each quatrain attempting to describe what love is (or is not) and the final couplet reaffirming the poet's words by placing his own merit on the line. Note that this is one of the few sonnets in...